Inwardly cambered rocker joint for a power transmission chain

Abstract

An inwardly cambered rocker joint for a power transmission chain is disclosed. The rocker joint includes a straight pin that defines a rocking surface and engages a first chain link. The rocker joint also includes an inwardly cambered rocker that engages a second chain link and that defines a rocking surface that contacts the pin rocking surface near the ends of the rocker. The inwardly cambered rocker joint provides a stiff joint that reduces tight strand resonance and chain wash.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A rocker joint for joining a first link of a power transmission chain to a second link that is adjacent to the first link along a chain direction of the chain, each link defining an opening, the openings aligned to define a joint opening extending through the first and second links, said rocker joint comprising: 
       a pin, said pin  
       being generally straight and elongate,  
       defining a pin rocking surface configured for rocking contact, and  
       engaging the first link to rock with the first link and to position the pin rocking surface within the joint opening, and  
       a rocker, said rocker  
       defining a rocker rocking surface configured for rocking contact with said pin rocking surface,  
       extending a length from a first end to a second end,  
       being inwardly cambered along the length from the first end to the second end,  
       positioned in the joint space engaging the second link to rock with the second link and to position the rocker rocking surface adjacent to the pin rocking surface to contact the pin rocking surface near said first and second ends of the rocker.  
     
     
       2. The rocker joint of  claim 1  wherein said pin rocking surface includes a convex circular arc rocking surface. 
     
     
       3. The rocker joint of  claim 1  wherein said rocker rocking surface includes a convex circular arc rocking surface. 
     
     
       4. The rocker joint of  claim 1  wherein said pin is fixed to the first link by riveting. 
     
     
       5. The rocker joint of  claim 1  wherein said pin has a length greater than the length of said rocker. 
     
     
       6. The rocker joint of  claim 1  wherein said pin includes a pin seat surface, said pin seat surface configured to engage the opening in the first link, wherein and said rocker includes a rocker seat surface, that is configured to engage the opening in the second link. 
     
     
       7. The rocker joint of  claim 6  wherein said pin includes a pin side surface extending from the pin rocking surface to the pin seat surface, and the rocker includes a rocker side surface extending from the rocker rocking surface to the rocker seat surface. 
     
     
       8. The rocker joint of  claim 6  wherein the pin seat surface is a concave circular arc seat surface, and said rocker seat surface is a concave circular are seat surface. 
     
     
       9. The rocker joint of  claim 6  wherein said pin rocking surface is a convex circular arc rocking surface, and the pin seat surface is a concave a circular arc surface that is concentric with said pin rocking surface. 
     
     
       10. The rocker joint of  claim 6  wherein said rocker rocking surface is a convex circular arc rocking surface, and the rocker seat surface is a concave circular arc surface that is concentric with the rocker rocking surface.